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We can't afford to wait on climate change

THE past few months have seen mounting optimism that we have a little more time to address the hazards of climate change than previously thought. Whether we have the money is another matter.

An appraisal of possible plans to curb emissions during this extra time suggests they’re optimistic – perhaps excessively so (see “Outbreak of global warming optimism is naive“). And in the absence of a climate treaty with teeth, much depends on countries reining back their economic ambitions, putting the greater good above national interest.

Unlikely? Perhaps. But the costs of continued inaction are likely to be enormous too, …